Sheave lubricating system



Oct. 5, 1954 E. J. OTTO 2,690,677

SHEAVE LUBRICATING SYSTEM Original Filed March 29, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l H! II ammo/o wgya/M 3. @Mo

" 4Q 2; 1) Mionwag Oct. 5, 1954 E. J. OTTO SHEAVE LUBRICATING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 29, 1951 able .flanges of similar construction. .sheave isillustrated, for example,.in the appli- Patented Oct. 5, 1954 I'JNITLED ES 1 SHEAVE TLUBRICA'TIN G i SYSTEM Eugene --J. "Otto, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company, .Mil-

Original application Marh'29,l1951, SeriaLNo. 218,157. Dividedand this application August -11, 1952, Serial *No. 3033705 '9 Claims. "i.

:This invention'relates to thelubrication ofime- "ehanical elements and more particularly to the lubrication of limited-areas of a'cylindrical bearing surface having contact withsegmental lugs -rather-"thanwithfull cylindrical bearing surfaces. This is a divisional application offmy pending application, Serial No. 218,157, filed ."March 29, .1951.

.Particularly in the 1 art of rexpansible sheaves of theslidin-g cone type such as are used with edge driving belts of the trapezoidal or -V-belt type and in friction gearing of various types, -it'has been found desirable .to mount -frusto-conical lfaced flanges I on cylindrical power -.-transmission elements through .useof flange supporting lugs I -.of arcuate form circumferentiallyspacedtointer- .digitate with similar-lugs on otherrrelatively mov- Such a .cants UwsrPatentNo. 2,610,516, filed May :14,

:1949, for .a Spring Loaded Variable Diameter Shea-ye and Drive. Owingto .the fact thatv-there isialmost unavoidably a substantialclearance-be- .tween such interdigitating segmental'lugs, considenable-leakage of lubricant.fromthesliding bear- .ings 'has been experienced, .and'poor lubrication has resulted from ordinary .lubrication methods previously'employed.

.ing-and operating point of .view.

The *following is a full, clear and concise' .de-

scription of "an embodiment of the invention devised by .the' inventor for l carrying obj set. into practical-effect. Reference is vmade .to the ac- =companying drawing, :in which:

Fig. 1 is a .longitudinalsectional view 0f one embodiment of a sheave embodying the invention;

Fig. '2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on' line II'II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 'is a fragmentary longitudinal "sectional view taken on line III- III of Fig. '2; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view 'taken'onthe line IVIV of Fig. '1.

Still further objects andmany specific advan- "tages' willbe "apparent from 'a' reading of 'th'e'following description.

'The present inventionisembo'died tine. multiple grooved "variable pitch diameter or expansible' sheave 'or pulley, as illustrated 'inthe draw- =2 "ingsgfor 'usefin a multi'ple speed v-belt drive. The principal features and operation of such sheave are fullylillustrated and described'inap- :plicants "U. S. Patent No. 2,610,516, filed May. 14, 1949,-and will not be described in detailin this application. In the description of "this invention, it will suffice to state that sleeve element l constitutes an externally cylindrical power-trans- IniSsiOII element which-isarranged for mounting upon a rotary shaft.

Upon this :sleeve l are mounted a group of similarly facing :sheave "flanges 2 with frusto-conical faces 3 and a -se'cond group of similarlyfacing-sheave flanges '4 with frusto-conical faces 5, the two groups facing oppositely, relative to each other. The two groups of flanges are relatively -movable axially of the sleeve and are alternatively *arranged to form cooperatingpairs ofoppositely facing flanges with opposed frusto-conical faces 3 and "5, -'the faces being -movable toward and "away from each other to expand and contractthe effective pitch diameter of the pulley with I reference to-a'givensize of V-belt or other interposed frictional drive element (not shown). Suitable means such assprings l5 and 1 andsnap rings 8 :and-B are provided'tolirnit relative axial movement'of the flanges on the sleeve; and-keys l 0 and 1H, further described hereinafter, are provided to"preventTelative rotation between thesle'eve "I and "the flanges 2- and l.

ment I in axially slidable relation. Eachfl'angei :having :such lugs -l2 -is=apertured between :such

lugs to a larger :diameter than the diameter of the bearing surfaces l3-of thelugs.

Certainbf flanges 4 are formed with lugs t6, similar to.lugs-l2 and have similar bearingsurfacei'Land each of these flanges 4 is apertured .to a larger diameter between the lugs than the diameter of 'bearing surfaces 11', and in assembly each set of lugs is interdigitated and passes through the apertures between'the other set of llugs. 'On'eluglZ has'a longitudinalkeyway 1'8 cooperatingwi't'h key H! -toprevent'rotation relative "to sleeve element "I one lug ffi'similarly'has a longitudinalkeyway'ls'for receiving key H. Suitable tiebolts fi'fl and -'Zl are passed through "suitable holes in'the fianges'and'lugsof their respective sets and serve to fix therelative axial position of "each flange in *aset relative to the others so that the'two sets'are movable as units relative to "each 3 other, axially of the sleeve element I, the lugs serving as spacer struts between the individual flanges of a set.

The lugs I2 and I6 are so proportioned as to axial length and the snap rings 8 and 9 are so positioned axially of the sleeve I that the flanges and their lugs can only move axially through a distance substantially less than the lug length. Thus, certain points or circumferentially spaced areas on the external cylindrical surface of sleeve I will normally be covered by the inner arcuate bearing surfaces of the lugs.

In order to provide means to lubricate the bearings between the arcuate bearing surfaces I3 and I! of the lugs so as to permit freedom for limited axial movement of the flanges, this invention makes use of the key seats I8 and I9 and keys I6 and II to provide practical longitudinal lubricant passages 22, 23 through which to move lubricant to the areas to be lubricated. Passages 22 and 23 are preferably formed by grooving the bottoms of the keys I and II as shown, but may if desired be formed by grooving the key seats I8 and I9, the object in either case being to form passages 22 and 23 so that they are in effect within the body of sleeve element I and have no outlet to the external cylindrical surface except in selected areas.

Lubricant can be fed to a full cylindrical bearing, such as that between an end disk 2 and end disk 4 which have no lugs, by providing circumferential grooves 24 and 25, norm-ally sealed around the full circumference by the cylinder inner bearing surface of such end disks. However, if this were done in the axial vicinity of the bearings of lugs I2 and I6 on the sleeve, lubricant could escape freely between the lugs, where relatively large clearance is desirable.

The means by which lubricant is distributed to the lug bearing surf-ace will be described hereinafter. Circumferential grooves 26 and 27 are formed in the external sleeve surface and communicate with or intersect the key seats I8 and I9 and lubricant passages 22 and 23. Grooves 26 and 21 are provided with rings 28 and 29, respectively, which fit the sides of the grooves closely and have a minimum outside diameter substantially equal to that of the external or bearing surface of sleeve element I. Preferably such a ring will, like a piston ring, be split to provide a gap at one point large enough to permit passage of one of the keys I0 and II, the other key being recessed to provide passage for the ring as shown at 30 and 3i. Such rings 28 and 29 form outer walls for circumferential grooves 26 and 21, respectively.

To distribute lubricant to the lug bearing areas, auxiliary or branch lubricant pockets 32 and 33 communicating with the circumferential passages in grooves 26 and 21 are formed in sleeve I as by milling narrow longitudinal slots across the grooves at circumferentially spaced points or areas normally covered by the lugs. That is, at the centers of the normal lug bearing areas, points or circumferentially spaced areas normally covered by a lug bearing surface I3 or IT, openings or pockets are provided, as at 32 and 33, through the external cylindrical surface of sleeve I to provide for supply of lubricant from the circumferential passages formed by grooves 26 and 21, the passages being outwardly sealed at all other points by rings 28 and 29.

The rings 28 and 29 seal the passages within grooves 26 and 21, except at auxiliary passages or pockets 32 and 33, and thus prevent escape of lubricant between lugs I2 and I6.

Grease, oil or other lubricant supply fittings of known type are provided at 35 and 36, opening into the passages 22 and 23 defined by the formation of keys I0 and II and their key seats below the cylindrical external surface of the sleeve. The keys prevent escape of lubricant except at the desired areas where applicant has provided the distributing grooves and auxiliary passages described hereinabove. The lubricant forced in under pressure through either fitting 35 or fitting 33 will travel through all the above described passages to the points where lubrication is desired without waste or diversion through any unnecessary opening and will adequately lubricate all moving parts of the sheave without Waste.

It will be understood that the details of the embodiment of the invention described hereinabove and illustrated in the drawings are by way of example only and that the lubricating system will be capable of beneficial use in mechanisms other than sheaves. It will also be understood that modifications of details and substitutions of substantial equivalents may be made without departing from the spirit and teaching hereof and that the invention is accordingly intended to include whatever lies within the legitimate scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an expansible sheave of the axially movable cone type, the combination comprising: an annularly shaped, externally cylindrically surfaced power transmission element; a pair of frusto-conicall faced flanges mounted on said element in axially movable relation, at least one of said flanges having an annular series of cir cumferentially spaced arcuate bearing lugs engaging said cylindrical surface of said element in axially slidable flange supporting relation; means for normally limiting relative axial and rotational movement of said lugged flange on said element in such a manner that a series of circumferentially spaced points of said cylindrical surface are normally covered by said lugs; a longitudinal lubricant passage in the body of said element; means for supplying lubricant to said passage; a circumferential lubricant passage enclosed in the body of said element and positioned in the axial vicinity of said points and communicating with said longitudinal passage; and a plurality of branch lubricant pockets communicating with said circumferential passage and opening outwardly through said cylindrical surface only at the circumferentially spaced points normally covered by said lugs.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said means limiting movement of said lugged flange includes a key engaging a longitudinal keyway in one of said lugs and a suitable key seat in said element for preventing relative rotation of said flange and element; said key and key seat being so formed and assembled as to form therebetween said longitudinal lubricant passage in the body of said element.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which said element has a circumferential groove in the vicinity of said points and communicating with said longitudinal passage and a ring in said groove and forming a closure therefor at said cylindrical surface, said ring and groove being so formed and assembled as to form therebetween said circumferential lubricant passage in the body of said element.

4. The combination of claim 2 in which said element has a circumferential groove in the vicinity of said points and communicating with said longitudinal passage and a ring in said groove and forming a closure therefor at said cylindrical surface, said ring and groove being so formed and assembled as to form therebetween said circumferential lubricant passage in the body of said element.

5. In a lubricated sliding bearing between machine parts, the combination including: an annularly shaped, externally cylindrically surfaced rotary power transmission element; a member having an annular series of circumferentially spaced arcuate bearing lugs engaging said cylindrical surface of said element in axially slidable relation; means normally limiting relative movement of said member and element in such a manner that a series of circumferentially spaced points of said cylindrical surface are normally covered by said lugs; a longitudinal lubricant passage in the body of said element; means for supplying lubricant to said passage; a circumferential lubricant passage enclosed in the body of said element and positioned in the vicinity of said points and communicating with said longitudinal passage; and a plurality of branch lubricant pockets communicating with said circumferential passage and opening outwardly through said cylindrical surface only at circumferentially spaced points normally covered by said lugs.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which said means limiting relative movement includes a key engaging a longitudinal keyway in one of said lugs and a suitable key seat in said element for preventing relative rotation of said member and element; said key and key seat being so formed and assembled as to form therebetween said longitudinal lubricant passage in the body of said element.

7. The combination of claim 5 in which said element has a circumferential groove in the vicinity of said points and communicating with said longitudinal passage and a ring in said groove and forming a closure therefor at said cylindrical surface, said ring and said groove being so formed and assembled as to form therebetween said circumferential lubricant passage in the body of said element.

8. The combination of claim 6 in which said element has a circumferential groove in the vicinity of said points and communicating with said longitudinal passage and a ring in said groove andforming a closure therefor at said cylindrical surface, said ring and said groove being so formed and assembled as to form therebetween said circumferential lubricant passage in the body of said element.

9. A lubricated power transmission sleeve of cylindrical form having a longitudinal key seat in its external surface and a key secured in said seat, said key and seat being so formed and assembled relative to each other as to form therebetween a longitudinal passage for a lubricant; means for supplying lubricant to said passage; said sleeve having a circumferential groove in its external surface intersecting said passage, and a ring in said groove forming a closure therefor at the external surface of said sleeve, said ring and said groove being so formed and assembled relative to each other as to form a circumferential lubricant passage; said sleeve having a plurality of branch lubricant passages communicating with said circumferential passage and opening outwardly through said external surface only at circumferentially spaced points adjacent said ring and groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,107,483 Knight Feb. 8, 1.938 2,524,575 Shaw Oct, 3, 1950 

